The Journey To Orillion

Chapter 10: Reminder

(Dante's POV)

I heard the crinkle of the sofa, and I was back in the living room with the Rasherins.

I blinked away the terrorizing memory, and I found myself looking in the general direction of Esmeralda. Her mother sat next to her husband, and I was left to sit next to Esmeralda. How about Emma? I thought. Emma was thinking of something, Cami, probably, as I stared at her. She may have brown eyes, but dang they are pretty. I noticed how pale her face was compared with the red slowly receeding under her eyes and nose.

Esmeralda's eyes seemed to light up slightly when she cleared her mind. Then her face blossomed red. Oops. She stared at me for a couple more seconds before turning her head over to her father. I dropped my head quickly when her father turned his eyes to look at me. I pretended to be interested in a nonexistant string on my pants until I heard her mother talk.

"Esmeralda," she said, "This man is Dante." I looked up at the sound of my name being called. "He saved Cami's life."

But I wasn't fast enough to save her leg. She still got hurt.

Emma turned her head sharply back to me. Her face was a painting of someone who had just discovered a new, horrific species of animal.

"You... saved Cami's life?" her words were barely audible. "So, who put her life in danger the first place? Why are you here, even though we don't know you, yet you were here at the perfect time?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but her mother interrupted my response. "Esmeralda! That is no way to thank him!"

"No, it's alright. I understand why you would be confused." I said. "I already explained the situation to your parents; you deserve to know, too."

Emma looked anxiously at me. "Well, as you just learned, I am Dante. Dante Leige." How should I explain this? "I was hired by Jumin, your father. When I was born, my family was very poor. They... died in a fire when I was six."

Esmeralda's face softened. She nodded slightly, telling me to continue. "Jumin took me in, though he was never thought of as my father. I went to work early, so I could be more competent with activities. I grew up in Iowa, near the border of Minnesota. It was constantly cold, so I didn't go outside very often. I was taught how to fight and defend. When Jumin died, he requested that I be your training partner. The downside: I didn't have any idea where you were. The war between humans and dragons started in the end of the year 2013. It ended just six months ago, in January. I've been searching for you for nearly seven months Esmeralda."

I saw Emma contemplate everything I just said, taking in every detail and evaluating it. "So..." she finally conluded, "You're gonna teach me how to fight? What for?"

"Well, remember when you asked 'Who put her life in danger in the first place?' We are going to fight the people who attacked Cami."

"Who are they working for?" I like the way she thinks. She's calm and collected and already moving on to the next problem.

"Someone you may have heard of terrorizing the dragons and people alike: The Demon King, Karagra."